Political Actions On The Issues Of Immigration

Events

Trump orders construction of border wall, boosts deportation force

January 25, 2017

President Donald Trump on Wednesday started to reshape US immigration enforcement policies via executive action, taking his first steps toward fulfilling some of the most contentious pledges that defined his campaign -- building a border wall and speeding the deportation of undocumented immigrants.

Homeland Security Implementation

February 20, 2017

Provided guidance for the executive order Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements. It covered a wide range of immigration issues, including a call to hire 5,000 additional Border Patrol agents, an analysis of aid to Mexico, the allocation of available funding to the construction of a border wall, and the prioritization of criminal prosecutions for immigration offenses committed at the border.

Debate over in-state tuition for students in U.S. illegally

April 8, 2017

Supporters in states where the tuition benefit is available say the policy has boosted Latino enrollment and has helped these students contribute to the economy. Opponents say the policy wrongly rewards immigrants who entered the country illegally.

End of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA

September 5, 2017

On September 5, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions gave a press briefing where he announced that the administration would be rescinding a program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. The program was established underneath the Obama administration and provided temporary relief from deportation for individuals who had been brought without legal permission to the United States as children. Sessions said that the program was "an unconstitutional exercise of the executive branch" and that it was his duty to uphold constitutional order.

U.S. State Department outlines new requirements for visa holders

September 18, 2017

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson issued a memo to United States consular offices overseas, outlining new requirements for visa holders. Individuals who obtain a visa before entering the country must then abide by their stated plans for at least three months. If events occur within this period that were not mentioned during the visa application process—such as getting married or finding a job—the U.S. State Department will presume the visa holder deliberately misrepresented their reasons for coming to the United States. Such individuals would be eligible for deportation.

Trump calls on Congress to end Diversity Lottery after terrorist attack (Calls for Merit Based System)

November 1, 2017

On November 1, 2017, after a terrorist killed eight people in New York City in the name of the Islamic State terrorist group, President Donald Trump called for ending the Diversity Lottery Program. During a meeting with his Cabinet, Trump said, "I am today starting the process of terminating the diversity lottery program. I'm going to ask Congress to immediately initiate work to get rid of this program."

U.S. President Donald Trump urged lawmakers on Tuesday to find a bipartisan solution to protect thousands of young, undocumented immigrants from deportation but repeated his demand that any agreement must include funding for a border wall with Mexico.

Trump's Immigration Plan Receives a Chilly Reception

January 31, 2018

State of the Union Address

Four Pillars for Immigration Reform

On Tuesday evening, in a State of the Union address billed as “optimistic, heartfelt, and bipartisan,” President Donald Trump revealed just how fractured Congress is on the issue that swept him into the White House: immigration.

Republicans are banking on passing legislation on the issue to help them coast into November—and they’ll need Democratic votes to make it happen.

What is chain migration and why does Trump want it ended?

January 31, 2018

Eliminating chain migration, the process that allows family members of immigrants to come to the U.S., has been a target of President Trump.

Trump has often lambasted the program and called for its end, including in his first State of the Union address. And at a bipartisan meeting with lawmakers earlier this month, Trump said any immigration reform package would have to include a solution to chain migration in order for him to be on board.

How American Citizens Finance $18.5 Billion In Health Care For Unauthorized Immigrants

February 26, 2018

Estimates suggest that the nation's 3.9 million uninsured immigrants who are unauthorized likely receive about $4.6 billion in health services paid for by federal taxes, $2.8 billion in health services financed by state and local taxpayers.